They made it through the Television Critics Association[2] without a hiccup, but now on the eve of the second season premiere of one of its most successful series ever, the Kelsey Grammer showcase “Boss,” Starz[3] is going to be cut loose from John Malone’s Denver-based Liberty Media.

The premium cable company Starz[3] will continue under President and CEO Chris Albrecht[4] (former head of HBO).

The separation will give Liberty more liquidity, according to a company statement. Growth for Starz/Encore has been encouraging — reports say Starz reached 20.7 million subscribers and Encore reached 34.2 million by mid-2012. Starz will become a publicly traded company later this year. Analysts have predicted Starz will be absorbed by a larger media entity as a result.

Starz has always been a sleeping giant, even when “Spartacus” and “Boss” were gaining traction, and with another major series, “The Crimson Petal and the White” on the horizon next month, the company hasn’t quite reached its full potential. It’s due for a creative burst on the order of Showtime’s[5] (a Viacom property). Leave it to others to assess the financial implications.

And what this means for the Denver-area offices (anyone checking L.A. real estate?). Maybe this change ultimately will benefit viewers.

Article printed from Ostrow Off The Record: http://blogs.denverpost.com/ostrow